SWANSEA Council's use of external solicitors for personal injury claims has declined.

The decrease is due to the authority's legal team dealing with more cases "in house".

In 2003/4 Dolmans Solicitors dealt with 63 personal injury claims for the authority, compared to nine in 2010/11 and five in 2011/12. A report before the council's audit committee said only one such case had been referred to Dolmans in 2012/13.

The cases referred to Dolmans comprise either high-value claims or industrial disease cases, although the former type should now be taken care of in house.

The report said Dolmans had also been instructed in relation to two property matters, although their fees would not be paid by the council.